News digest – radiotherapy for breast cancer, nuclear power plants, zebrafish and more

Our pick of the week’s headlines

• Less is more – at least when it comes to radiotherapy for breast cancer. Our study showed that giving radiotherapy in fewer, larger treatments is at least as safe and effective at treating early breast cancer than standard doses. The Guardian and Mail Online covered this practice-changing trial.
• In other breast cancer news, the NHS published new advice about the pros and cons of breast screening. We helped to write the new leaflet, which was discussed by NHS Choices.
• Meanwhile, the Independent discussed biological evidence that backs up reports from women who say they experience ‘mental fog‘ effects from the breast cancer drug Tamoxifen.
• The BBC and others reported that children living near nuclear power plants do not have an increased risk of developing leukaemia. The original press release from the British Journal of Cancer has more detail.
• The Faculty of Public Health and the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV called for schoolboys to be vaccinated against HPV to help protect them against some cancers. The BBC has more info.
• Scientists made a “huge leap” forward in stem cell production. It’s a technical feat rather than a clinical one, but could contribute to new treatments for diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s. Nature News wrote about the research.
• MPs have called for action to improve the set-up and transparency of clinical trials. The AMRC has an informative blog piece about the report, and we’ll be blogging about it next week.

• Reuters reported that childhood cancer survivors are more likely to be treated for neuro-developmental, emotional or behavioural disorders later in life.

• We’re enjoying this Scientific American series on the hallmarks of cancer.

And finally

• We loved this Guardian article about a “scientific star”, the zebrafish.

Reference

Images courtesy of Jon s, via Flickr.